He saw only the white burden that was strapped to the mare, and thought only of him with whom his earliest memories were entwined.
Raising his head, and dashing the gathering tears from his eyes, he saw one of the women on the hill opposite running towards him and crying loudly, as if in fear; but the wind carried away her voice, and he could not catch her words.
From her gestures, however, he gathered that something had occurred behind him.

No harm to the funeral train could come of their following on a few paces, and Ralph turned about and walked rapidly upwards.
Then the woman's voice seemed louder and shriller than ever, and appeared to cry in an agony of distress.
Ralph turned again and stood.

Had he mistaken the gesture?
Had something happened to the mourners?
No, the mare walked calmly up the pass.

What could it mean?
Still the shrill cry came to him, and still the words of it were borne away by the wind.

Something was wrong--something serious.